سُوْرَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 16
وَإِذَآ أَرَدْنَآ أَن نُّهْلِكَ قَرْيَةً أَمَرْنَا مُتْرَفِيهَا فَفَسَقُوا۟ فِيهَا فَحَقَّ عَلَيْهَا ٱلْقَوْلُ فَدَمَّرْنَـٰهَا تَدْمِيرًا ﴿16﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And when We decide to destroy a town (population), We (first) send a definite order (to obey Allâh and be righteous) to those among them [or We (first) increase in number those of its population] who lead a life of luxury. Then, they transgress therein, and thus the word (of torment) is justified against it (them). Then We destroy it with complete destruction.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِذَآ
wa-idhā
And when
أَرَدْنَآ
aradnā
We intend
أَن
an
that
نُّهْلِكَ
nuh'lika
We destroy
قَرْيَةً
qaryatan
a town
أَمَرْنَا
amarnā
We order
مُتْرَفِيهَا
mut'rafīhā
its wealthy people
فَفَسَقُوا۟
fafasaqū
but they defiantly disobey
فِيهَا
fīhā
therein
فَحَقَّ
faḥaqqa
so (is) proved true
عَلَيْهَا
ʿalayhā
against it
ٱلْقَوْلُ
l-qawlu
the word
فَدَمَّرْنَـٰهَا
fadammarnāhā
and We destroy it
تَدْمِيرًۭا
tadmīran
(with) destruction
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 16) ➊ { وَ اِذَاۤ اَرَدْنَاۤ اَنْ نُّهْلِكَ … : ’’ اَمَرْنَا ‘‘} is the opposite of a prohibition; it means to give a command. {’’مُتْرَفٌ‘‘} refers to a person who has been granted blessings and prosperity and has been left free to do as he wishes. It is said: {’’ أَتْرَفَتْهُ النِّعْمَةُ ‘‘} the blessing has made him rebellious and defiant. {’’تَدْمِيْرًا ‘‘} is for emphasis, which is why it has been translated as "utterly destroy."
➋ This is a completion of the meaning of the previous verse, that Allah does not punish without establishing proof. He said, We command the prosperous people of the town. The object of {’’ اَمَرْنَا ‘‘} is omitted; it is either {’’بِأَمْرٍ‘‘}, meaning We give them a command, or {’’بِالْإِيْمَانِ وَالْعَمَلِ الصَّالِحِ‘‘}, meaning We command the prosperous people of the town, through its Messenger or other reformers, to have faith and do righteous deeds. {’’ فَفَسَقُوْا ‘‘} then they do not accept this command, or the command to have faith and do righteous deeds, but instead spread wickedness and immorality throughout the land, so their deserving of punishment is established. Then We do not only utterly destroy the prosperous people, but also their weak followers, and even the buildings of the town. For the reason behind the destruction of the weak, see Surah Al-Baqarah (166, 167), Al-Ahzab (64 to 68), and Al-A'raf (38, 39), and the destruction of the town is indicated by the word {’’ قَرْيَةً ‘‘}.
➌ Some commentators, due to the context of {’’ فَفَسَقُوْا فِيْهَا ‘‘}, have taken the omitted object of {’’ اَمَرْنَا ‘‘} to be {’’بِالْفِسْقِ‘‘}, meaning when We intend to destroy a town, We command its prosperous people to commit wickedness... But this is not correct, because Allah commands good and forbids disobedience. Allah Himself said: «قُلْ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يَاْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَآءِ » [ الأعراف : ۲۸ ] "Say: Indeed, Allah does not command immorality." And see Surah An-Nahl (90) and Saba (34, 35). However, if it is interpreted that Allah's legal command is always for good, but His universal command (under which the universe operates, disbelievers disbelieve, oppressors commit oppression, the oppressed are wronged, and in this there are countless wisdoms of Allah) can be of any kind, although even this universal command occurs only as a result of disobeying the legal commands and forgetting Allah and His Messenger. Thus, the rope of these disobedient ones is lengthened and the doors of worldly blessings are opened for them so that they may disobey as much as they wish. Then, when the indictment is complete, Allah's punishment comes. (See Al-An'am: 42 to 45) Some have also interpreted {’’ اَمَرْنَا ‘‘} as {’’أَكْثَرْنَا‘‘}, meaning We greatly increase the "prosperous ones" so that they become arrogant and turn to disobedience. Of these three meanings, the first meaning mentioned in footnote (2) is more Sahih, although there is room for the other meanings as well.
➋ This is a completion of the meaning of the previous verse, that Allah does not punish without establishing proof. He said, We command the prosperous people of the town. The object of {’’ اَمَرْنَا ‘‘} is omitted; it is either {’’بِأَمْرٍ‘‘}, meaning We give them a command, or {’’بِالْإِيْمَانِ وَالْعَمَلِ الصَّالِحِ‘‘}, meaning We command the prosperous people of the town, through its Messenger or other reformers, to have faith and do righteous deeds. {’’ فَفَسَقُوْا ‘‘} then they do not accept this command, or the command to have faith and do righteous deeds, but instead spread wickedness and immorality throughout the land, so their deserving of punishment is established. Then We do not only utterly destroy the prosperous people, but also their weak followers, and even the buildings of the town. For the reason behind the destruction of the weak, see Surah Al-Baqarah (166, 167), Al-Ahzab (64 to 68), and Al-A'raf (38, 39), and the destruction of the town is indicated by the word {’’ قَرْيَةً ‘‘}.
➌ Some commentators, due to the context of {’’ فَفَسَقُوْا فِيْهَا ‘‘}, have taken the omitted object of {’’ اَمَرْنَا ‘‘} to be {’’بِالْفِسْقِ‘‘}, meaning when We intend to destroy a town, We command its prosperous people to commit wickedness... But this is not correct, because Allah commands good and forbids disobedience. Allah Himself said: «قُلْ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يَاْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَآءِ » [ الأعراف : ۲۸ ] "Say: Indeed, Allah does not command immorality." And see Surah An-Nahl (90) and Saba (34, 35). However, if it is interpreted that Allah's legal command is always for good, but His universal command (under which the universe operates, disbelievers disbelieve, oppressors commit oppression, the oppressed are wronged, and in this there are countless wisdoms of Allah) can be of any kind, although even this universal command occurs only as a result of disobeying the legal commands and forgetting Allah and His Messenger. Thus, the rope of these disobedient ones is lengthened and the doors of worldly blessings are opened for them so that they may disobey as much as they wish. Then, when the indictment is complete, Allah's punishment comes. (See Al-An'am: 42 to 45) Some have also interpreted {’’ اَمَرْنَا ‘‘} as {’’أَكْثَرْنَا‘‘}, meaning We greatly increase the "prosperous ones" so that they become arrogant and turn to disobedience. Of these three meanings, the first meaning mentioned in footnote (2) is more Sahih, although there is room for the other meanings as well.
